Looking for advice on a 2006 40 Sundancer

L

lakecat

New Member
Feb 11, 2011
5
Lake Cumberland, KY
Boat Info
2007 Sundancer 40
Engines
8.1's
We are currently looking at a 2006 40 Sundancer with Cummins QSB-380 Electronic Diesels. I have never had diesels; is this a good engine package for this boat? Also, is there much of a smell from the diesel engines or generator? Any other opinions about the 40 Sundancer would be appreciated.
 
The Cummings electronic diesels are good engines. Older diesels had a smell, particularly when started, but these should not be "over the top." I personally wouldn't buy the 40 without diesels. In my opinion, the only downfall is the price of diesel fuel these days!!:smt089
 
Fantastic boat. Although I haven't personally owned one, I have two good friends who had/have them (both 2005 390 DAs) and have spent many weekends rafted up with both.

The one with the gas engines HATED the performance - especially the "whirlpool in the gas tanks" at cruise - and traded up to a 48 DA with diesels after one year. The guy that bought his 390 to kept it one year and traded it again to a diesel boat.

The one with the Cummins 380B's LOVES his... They are great engines and smell is not a concern at all. Performance is great and you can cruise at very near 1 MPG.

Plus diesel generators put out almost no Carbon Monoxide. With gas generators, you know the story...
 
I'd agree with First Mate. My '06 40DA had the 8.1 HO gassers and although it was probably faster then the 380 QSB's it was atrocious on fuel consumption. I actually had ordered a blue hull with diesels and changed it to a pewter with gas after considering the $50k price difference. The QSB's are a common rail injection, fully electronic engine, just like my QSC's and the QSM's. You'll detect virtually no diesel odor or smoke from either the mains or the genny at any time. All in all a really great boat. Brand new, an '06 with diesels retailed for just north of $400k + tax. Good luck
 
Thanks for all of your feedback. At this time, we have narrowed our choices to a 2006 40 with 380QSB's and a 2007 40 with 8.1's. The price difference between the two is relatively small. I need some advice since we have never had diesels before and all of our boating is on a lake; which of the two would you recommend.
 
lakecat said:
Thanks for all of your feedback. At this time, we have narrowed our choices to a 2006 40 with 380QSB's and a 2007 40 with 8.1's. The price difference between the two is relatively small. I need some advice since we have never had diesels before and all of our boating is on a lake; which of the two would you recommend.
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I would go with diesel's for resale value down the road. Anything over 40ft needs to have diesels regardless. :thumbsup:
 
IMHO...The 390DA & 40DA hve a hull that just does not plain very well. It tends to "push" water rather than jump on top of it. I'm sure this has to do more with the overall balance of the boat. Diesels definitely help the boats performance, but even with diesels you will find the boat hard to trim for a economical cruise. Unless you want to spend 90% of your time a little above idle, don't even think about the 8.1L's.
 
Freshwater Ray's said:
IMHO...The 390DA & 40DA hve a hull that just does not plain very well. It tends to "push" water rather than jump on top of it. I'm sure this has to do more with the overall balance of the boat. Diesels definitely help the boats performance, but even with diesels you will find the boat hard to trim for a economical cruise. Unless you want to spend 90% of your time a little above idle, don't even think about the 8.1L's.
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Since I no longer own my '06 40DA I don't necessarily feel compelled to "defend" it but since the OP is looking for advice I think he deserves some perspective about ridiculous assertions such as the one above (Unless you want to spend 90% of your time a little above idle, don't even think about the 8.1L's). Not once during the 100 or so hours I put on mine did I think that hull, even with the 8.1's, had a performance issue. The boat planed just fine. I never had any issues with low speed handling or docking. If I remember the boat had a WOT speed of 36mph. It also consumed over 80gph at that speed. I originally ordered mine with the 380QSB's but changed after considering the $50k price difference and my use of the boat. As it turns out, the QSB380 is slightly underpowered for this hull, probably owing to it's rating at higher than typical rpms. There's a reason Sea Ray used the 425 QSB once it became available from Cummins. If Sea Ray had used the QSC in the 40 diesels would be a no brainer. As for the marginal price difference between an '07 gas and '06 diesel, that's pretty much as it should be if you apply appropriate depreciation curves to the original sale prices. It might also indicate the'07 is slightly overprices or vice versa for the '06. Lastly, the statement that for anything over 40' it's only diesels, I would generally agree, except for some coastal and lake boats and depending on the engine choice offered by the builder. I don't think, othere than longevity and fuel costs the QSB vs 8.1 in a 40 DA is a as simple as some would have the OP believe. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but on this boat mine is based on personal experience. I don't think you can go wrong with either engine in the 40DA it comes down to what's right for your application and the type of use and hours you expect to put on the boat. Just my $.02.
 
Thanks to everyone for the comments. Several comments have mentioned that the QSB-380's are a little underpowered. How do they compare to the 8.1's performance? Again, all of our boating will be done on a lake and we typically will put about 80 hours a year on the boat.
 
lakecat said:
Thanks to everyone for the comments. Several comments have mentioned that the QSB-380's are a little underpowered. How do they compare to the 8.1's performance? Again, all of our boating will be done on a lake and we typically will put about 80 hours a year on the boat.
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Well, I think form a performance perspective you will be equally happy, or unhappy, with either engine choice. Neither one will move the 40 they way the 8.1's move your 340. Those engines are a perfect match to your boat. So, just recognize that the 40 will be slower out of the hole and at cruise than your 340 is, with higher fuel burns. If you really put 80 hours a year on the boat and intend on keeping it more than 5 years I would lean towards the diesels, if diesel fuel is generally available on your lake. Unless one of the boats you're looking at is missing major options, or its condition is markedly different from the other, negotiate for both and go with the one that you think provides the best value for the dollar, I don't think you can go wrong with either engine choice for a lake boat. Good luck.
 
As a current owner of the model boat you are looking at I should step in I guess. I agree with 90% of what has been said here. Personally I would not like my boat with gassers but I take longer trips so short runs on a lake may lend itself to being acceptable with gassers. I just like the reliability, cruise efficiency, longevity and resale value of diesels. As for the power.....no it ain't a 340 with 8.1's but when the turbo kicks in you'll feel a good kick and remember, you're pushing a 20,000 lb. vessel!

FWIW, I was where you are in that this was my first diesel......never been happier. Only issue I've had is nagging WIF (water in fuel) sensors that have proven to be annoying as there has been no real issue but that may be unique to my boat.

If you want more detailed info on the boat please don't hesitate to ask.
 
I have a 2006 40 Sundancer with the same engines and there is no going back to gas! No smell, no black clouds of exhaust. Even docking is easier. I was in the same situation you are in but I got to drive both boats and the Cummins are great. You won't be disappointed.
 
I've had a 40 sundancer for 2 years. Gas 8.1. Everything about it is great except that I do feel that the gph isn't too great and it isn't very fast compared to newer boats of comparable size. I've never had diesels before. Heard that there are certain maintenance issues that gas engines doen't have. But that may be the way for me to go next time.
 
Al Gross said:
The Cummings electronic diesels are good engines. Older diesels had a smell, particularly when started, but these should not be "over the top." I personally wouldn't buy the 40 without diesels. In my opinion, the only downfall is the price of diesel fuel these days!!:smt089
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Not sure why you say the only downfall is the price of diesel fuel these days, it's $.55 cheaper per gallon at my fuel dock than gas. Not sure if this is only a Maryland thing but diesel fuel here is tax free for marine.
 
lakecat said:
Thanks for all of your feedback. At this time, we have narrowed our choices to a 2006 40 with 380QSB's and a 2007 40 with 8.1's. The price difference between the two is relatively small. I need some advice since we have never had diesels before and all of our boating is on a lake; which of the two would you recommend.
Click to expand...

Before you make a final decision check to see if diesel fuel is available on your lake. If not, your choice may have been made for you.
 
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